Governor Christie said Sunday he expects Mitt Romney to win the Michigan presidential primary, but if he doesn’t, the Republican selection of a nominee could go all the way to the party’s convention in Tampa in August. “I’m not going to deny the possibility exists,” Christie said on the CBS News program Face the Nation. “I still think it’s unlikely.”

Regardless of whether that happens, Christie said he will not change his mind about running for president. He also said that while he would listen if Romney asked him to be his running mate, he would recommend that anyone placing bets should bet on him continuing to be New Jersey’s governor.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, took a swipe at the Christie when he appeared later in the CBS program, noting that California’s bond rating under Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown was upgraded while New Jersey’s rating under Christie was downgraded.

Asked about the comment as he left the news station, Christie said O’Malley was “not that smart, he’s not that good, but he is flippant, so I give him credit for that.”

O’Malley compared Christie to a comedian whose act consisted of insulting the audience.

“Chris Christie’s brand of sort-of Don Rickles leadership is unusual,” O’Malley said. “The bombast and all of that stuff is entertaining, but it doesn’t make for good governance.”

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The Bloggers

Melissa Hayes, who has worked at The Record since 2010, covers Gov. Chris Christie and politics for the State House Bureau. Follow her on Twitter at @Record_Melissa. View all of her posts

Herb Jackson is the Washington correspondent for The Record, covering North Jersey issues on the Potomac, including the activities of the congressional delegation and federal policies that affect the region. Follow him on Twitter @Record_DC.View all of his posts.

John Reitmeyer, a reporter in the State House Bureau since 2007, focuses on taxes, state budgets, campaign finance and government ethics. Follow him on Twitter @JohnReitmeyer. View all of his posts

Charles Stile is the political columnist for The Record. He is a former State House Bureau chief at The Record and has covered politics and government in New Jersey for more than two decades. Follow him on Twitter @PoliticalStile. View all of his posts